In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

What is Islam?

Al-Islam, commonly referred to as Islam, is an Arabic term which means "the active submission to the One God". Islam is a religion which guides its followers, known as Muslims, in every aspect of their lives. It is a way of life. Islam is the modern or latest version of the message sent by God through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all). Islam was sent to humankind through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Islam is a religion which seeks to give a meaningful purpose to our life on this earth. It seeks to guide us in fulfilling that purpose by creating harmony between ourselves, our Creator and fellow human beings.

See Discover Islam for more information.

What is the Qur'an?

The Qur'an is the book of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him and his progeny. The purpose of the Qur'an is to guide humankind to God and to the correct way of living life. The Qur'an is miraculous from many dimensions. For example, no human being can write such perfect guidance on so many subjects. The language used in the Qur'an is of a supreme nature and has the unique quality of conveying oceans of meaning in simple but powerful words. From the time it was revealed, the Qur'an remains in its original, pure, and unaltered form. The topics of the Qur'an include stories of past prophets and moral lessons learned from them descriptions of the afterlife, commentary on the events during the times of early Muslims, practical code of daily conduct, nobility of character of the Prophet Muhammad and his family, and spiritual and metaphorical appeals to the human intellect to know God in the world outside and within the soul. Muslims read passages from the Qur'an in their daily prayers.

See the Qur'anic text online, The Qur'an in Islam, Qur'anic Text, Translations, and Commentaries, Qur'anic Recitation, and Qur'anic Sciences for more information.

Who are the Ahlul Bayt (`a) / Ahl al-Bayt?

According to the most authentic traditions narrated in the collections of all Muslim schools of thought, the Ahlul Bayt (a) (literally People of the House) of the Prophet are one of the two sources of guidance for humankind after the departure of the Prophet Muhammad from this world. The Prophet (s) reminded the Muslim community time after time to adhere to the Qur'an and Ahlul Bayt, in order not to go astray after him. The Prophet Muhammad (s) also informed us that these two are inseparable until the end of time. Therefore, in order to understand the Qur'an and the tradition of the Prophet (s), we should refer to the Ahlul Bayt (a). The position of the Ahlul Bayt is a result of their individual piety and knowledge. After the Prophet Muhammad (s), the Ahlul Bayt consists of Fatimah al-Zahra (a), Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a), Imam Hasan (a), Imam Husayn (a), and the nine descendants of Imam Husayn (a).

See Introducing the Ahlul Bayt for more information.

How do I say my daily prayers (salat)?

See Factsheet: How to Perform the Daily Prayers translated into multiple languages.

Where can I obtain information on how to become Muslim and other information about Islam?

Please write to Islamic Education Board, Dar al Tableegh, Jackets Lane, Harefield, Middlesex UB9 6PZ, United Kingdom, or email IEB@world-federation.org

Where can I buy Islamic books, lectures, and other Islamic items?

The DILP does not sell any of the resources available on Al-Islam.org. We do however maintain a list of booksellers and publishers who may carry some of these resources.

What do the various Arabic terms and abbreviations used on this site mean?

Allah = The One and Only God
swt = "Subhaanahu wa ta`aalaa" = Exalted He is (used for Allah)
pbuh = Peace be upon him and his family (used for Prophet Muhammad)
(s) or (saw) = "Sallallaahu `alayhi wa aalihi wa salaam" = Peace be upon him and his family (used for Prophet Muhammad)
(a) or (as) = "`alayhi/`alayhaa al-salaam" = Peace be upon him/her (used for the Prophets and the Ahlul Bayt)
ra = "Radhiyallaahu `anhu/`anha" = may Allah be pleased with him/her OR "Rahmatullaahi `alayhi/`alayha" = may the Mercy of Allah be upon him/her

Can I use of some text or other resources from Al-Islam.org for my own website, newsletter, curriculum, or other publishing effort?

For most of our textual resources, we do not own the copyright. However, after seeking permission, we have been permitted by the copyright-holders to digitise their material for educational purposes. If you wish to reproduce only a small portion of a textual resource (such as a chapter from a book) for a newsletter, you may wish to explore the possibility of doing so without permission under the fair use clauses of copyright legislation. Unfortunately, we cannot provide any further detailed guidance on this aspect. However, if you wish to use the materials for any other purposes (such as for your own website), or modify or summarise them, you will need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder directly.

Most graphics on Al-Islam.org have been created internally by the Ahlul Bayt DILP team and the copyright rests exclusively with us. We allow you to make use of these for non-profit educational purposes as long as the source is clearly identified and, in the case of a website, a link is provided to our website.

Can I link from a website I maintain to resources on your website?

Yes, you may do so, with the condition that you clearly acknowledge the destination of the link on your page as an external resource (The Ahlul Bayt DILP or Al-Islam.org). Please contact us for exceptions to this condition.

I'm trying to play the audio/video files on your site but I can't. Why?

To play most of the audio/video files on our site you must have the free Real software and a computer with speakers. If none of the files play then the problem is most likely on your side. If there are only some files that don't play while others do, then the problem is mostly likely on our side. If you write to us specifying the title of file, reciter, and error message that appears, we will notify you as soon as we have fixed the problem.

Why can't I view the Arabic pages on Al-Islam.org?

Please see the Arabic Viewing Guidelines.

I would like to translate from English into another language and/or vice-versa. Can I volunteer for the DILP?

Yes! Please contact us and let us know of your skills and interests.

How can I donate to this site?

All donations are welcome. If you have a credit card, fill out our online donation form. Otherwise, please contact us to discuss other options.